THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Following Richard Armitage's appropriately Jamesian (that is, slightly stuffy) reading of the introductory material, Emma Thompson gives the performance we expect from an Oscar winner. Most listeners don't think of Henry James as a passionate writer, but passion is there, and Thompson brings it out—and adds some of her own. This is, of course, James's ghost story, the most famous (if not the best) of his short works, and it has been interpreted many times in many ways over the years. It’s always worthwhile, however, to return to the original text. Thompson's reading will teach new listeners how to read the text—and perhaps James in general— and to understand why he’s considered a genius. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2016]